Health services in the city, particularly at government hospitals, were severely affected on Thursday after more than 250 nurses and paramedical staff working on contractual basis went on strike, demanding regularisation according to the government policy.

The protesting nurses alleged that despite the government's policy of regularisation after three years of service, nothing had been done in this connection so far.

The nurses and the para-medical staff working on contractual basis started their day by holding a demonstration outside the residence of local bodies and medical education minister Anil Joshi under the banner of Contract Basis Nursing and Para-Medical Staff.

They were later removed from there, after which they moved to Joshi's camp office, where they staged a demonstration till late evening.

One of the protesting nurses even fainted. Satinder Singh, a protester, said despite assurances from the state government to regularise their jobs after three years of service, nothing has been done so far.

"Majority of us have been on contract for almost four years but no one has not been regularised. We met the chief minister in this regard, but in vain," he said. He said the contractual staff has been asked to put in another three years' services, where after they would be awarded permanent jobs.

"The newcomers, who have joined lately or shall join in future, stand benefit more as they would be regularised after three years, while we would be confirmed after seven years even as the government policy says we would be regularised after three years," he said. The strike, he said, would continue till their demands were accepted.